Marie L. Anderson

To view a recording of Marie's funeral mass, click the following link,  https://youtu.be/oXxwtg5O-A8

September 9, 1940 – March 4, 2023

Marie Louise Stromme Anderson was born to Clarence Stromme and Pauline Zettler Olson Stromme in Devils Lake, ND on September 9, 1940. She was the only daughter of Clarence and could do no wrong.

Marie attended Noonan Township grade school and Devils Lake High School. Later she earned a graduate degree in Business Education and followed that with a Master’s degree in School Guidance and Counseling from the University of Montana.

Marie and Gary were married at Saint Benedicts Church in rural Crary, ND on July 30, 1958. They are the parents of 4 children, 6 grandchildren and 9 great grandchildren.

She worked as a secretary/bookkeeper for companies in Devils Lake, Fargo, and Williston and enjoyed each one.

Marie liked to stay active. She enjoyed reading, playing racquetball, riding bike, and crafting over the years. Marie and Gary rode over 70,000 miles together on Gary’s motorcycle. She loved to sew and make matching outfits when her daughter was young. She was always willing to try something new. Marie designed, cut and sold wooden items and signs. She also liked to follow her kids’ and grandchildrens’ sports and endeavors.  After retiring, she enjoyed making quilts and using her embroidery machine.

In 1997 Gary and Marie moved to Alaska where they worked as School Counselors in various villages. Marie cherished the people she met and continued to stay in contact with many teachers, friends and students. Marie has many stories of their time in Alaska, including riding in small planes and helicopters with excellent pilots who would take them low to the ground in order to see or look for moose, bear and other animals. Marie and Gary both spent time on the island of Little Diomede in the middle of the Bering Strait. It was only 2.4 miles from Russia’s Big Diomede! They retired in 2005 to Reynolds, ND.

Marie spent time with church activities as well as with friends. As her health decreased, Marie loved to reconnect with the many friends she had made over the years. Actually, she always loved talking with her friends. (We can only guess at the size of her lifetime phone bill – remember when there were long distance charges?)

She loved those conversations. Many times, they included requests for prayers and her hope for healing. Marie wanted to make sure everyone realizes how much she appreciated their prayers and friendship.  She is grateful for Gary’s loving presence and strength as hers began to wane.

Instead of conjecture, Marie wanted you to know that she experienced an obstructed bowel a few years ago, which led to an ovarian cancer diagnosis. After treatment, her kidneys began to fail and she began dialysis treatment.

Marie was preceded in death by her parents Pauline and Clarence, her daughter Carmen, grandson Zachary, sister Oliva, brothers, Art, Norman, Johnnie, Floyd and Lloyd.

She is survived by her husband of 64 years, Gary, sons Rory (Toni) and Zane, daughter Sherrin (Mark) Haaland, grandsons Derik (Chelsey), Dustin (Kecia), Isaac Haaland, granddaughters Chelsa (Jeremy) Jones, Haleigh and great-grandchildren Alena, Leni Mae, Lane, Elise, Bryn, Elessar, Frederic, Hadassah and Izzekiel.